Queenstown (New Zealand).
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Overview

Queenstown (Māori: Tāhuna) is a world renowned resort town in the South Island of New Zealand. The town sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by the Southern Alps.

Understand

What was once a small, remote town in New Zealand’s South Island has, since the 1980s, transformed into a major tourism hub. Originally known for its ski resorts, Queenstown has evolved into a year-round destination renowned for adventure tourism, natural beauty, and outdoor recreation. Today, it attracts around 1.9 million visitors annually, making it widely regarded as the tourism capital of the South Island — if not all of New Zealand. For many travellers, it’s a must-see stop on any New Zealand itinerary.

On the shores of Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s third-largest lake (291 km² or 112 sq mi), and surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery, Queenstown's setting is nothing short of spectacular. Its natural beauty draws visitors in all seasons. The town caters to a wide range of travellers, offering everything from backpacker hostels to five-star luxury resorts, as well as a broad mix of attractions, adventure activities, and dining options for nearly every budget.

That said, Queenstown’s popularity comes with downsides. In many respects, it can feel like a tourist trap, especially during peak seasons. Accommodation and dining prices can be steep — but with a bit of effort, reasonable deals and local favourites can still be found.

Queenstown is lively year-round, with visitor numbers peaking in summer and during the ski season. The compact town centre has a vibrant nightlife, with bars and restaurants often open late into the night. If you're hoping for a quiet night’s sleep, it may be wise to stay a little outside the central area. It’s not uncommon to see people out on the streets as late as 5 AM, returning from pubs or clubs.

For a more relaxed alternative, Wānaka — just over an hour’s drive away — offers similar scenery and outdoor activities, but with a more peaceful, laid-back atmosphere and less of the late-night party scene.

Queenstown has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, mild summers, cool winters, and rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year.

Local newspapers Lakes Weekly Bulletin is an additional source of second-hand items for sale, community noticeboard, employment vacancies, film/gig guide, flatmates and rentals.

Destination Queenstown. Visitor information and brochures.

Get in

Queenstown Airport is known for its spectacular approach with the snow-covered hills surround it on four sides. However, the surrounding terrain also makes it a tricky airport to fly in and out, with aircraft often having to circle near the airport to lose or gain height. Upgrades to the airport lighting and the introduction of high-accuracy GPS approach and departure procedures in the 2010s have greatly reduced delays and cancellations due to low cloud or cold weather. During winter peak loadings, flights departing to Australia are sometimes too heavy to take-off from Queenstown with full fuel, so they have make an enroute diversion to Christchurch or Invercargill to fill up.

Queenstown Airport also provides for private jets and other aircraft, and there is a huge number of helicopter take-offs and landings each day. Scenic flights and heli-skiing are a popular attraction for the region.

By bus Daily services from Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Te Anau, Wanaka and the West Coast (Fox Glacier, Franz Josef and Greymouth) .

National bus operator InterCity Coachlines provide daily services in and out of Queenstown with connections throughout the South Island. Services arrive and depart from the Athol Street car park located in the main retail shopping area.

National sightseeing tour operator GreatSights New Zealand has daily tour options to Queenstown from Christchurch via Mt Cook and operates daily services to the West Coast including (Fox Glacier Franz Josef and Greymouth).

There are also a number of smaller shuttle operators who connect to and from Queenstown including Tracknet. Ritchies have several return trips to Wanaka a day.

Many international tour companies carry holidaymakers into Queenstown by coach.

By car Queenstown is 6½ hours non-stop from Christchurch via the Mackenzie Country and the Lindis Pass, so allow a full day driving. The drive is spectacular, through the diverse countryside of New Zealand's South Island, with vast plains, rolling hills, multicoloured lakes and mountain passes. The Lindis Pass does occasionally close in winter due to snow; a slightly less scenic detour via Oamaru and Alexandra will add 2–4 hours to your journey.

Major international and all national rental car and camper van companies have offices in Queenstown.

By train There is no rail line into Queenstown. There used to be a rail line from Invercargill to Kingston at the southern tip of Lake Wakatipu, but the line closed after a major washout in 1980, well before Queenstown's tourist boom.

Get around

The Queenstown town centre is small enough to walk around. Parking is at a premium and can be hard to find during the day. For further distances a bus or car is necessary.

There are a number of tour operators to be found in the CBD of Queenstown. Transport from Queenstown's CBD to adventure activities is often part of the tour package. Some operators may pick up from your tourist accommodation.

By boat A number of boat tours depart from the Queenstown Wharf at the bottom of the Mall, including the historic steamship the TSS Earnslaw, affectionately known as the "Lady of the Lake". There is also a water taxi service.

By bus Queenstown has a small local bus service operated by Orbus. You can buy tickets from the driver. There are five routes - the most useful for tourists being services route 1 which operates every 15 minutes to the airport and the Remarkables Park shopping centre. The bus network has two bus hubs, at Camp Street outside the O'Connell shopping mall in central Queenstown, and on Kawerau Road at the Frankton shopping centre (junction of Highway 6 and 6A) near the airport.

If you want to save money getting to or from the airport, consider taking a bus to the Remarkables Park shopping centre. From there, it is an easy 10 minute walk on good footpaths to the airport.

By car Renting or buying a vehicle is convenient for getting around town, and to nearby areas. Many budget and premium car rentals provide services in Queenstown.

See

The spectacular mountain scenery and Lake Wakatipu dominate the view from most parts of town. Most attractions in Queenstown make the most of the view and it's enough reason to spend time in Queenstown even if you choose not to do anything else.

After that though, there are not a lot of things to 'See'. It's in the 'Do' category below where Queenstown really excels. Nevertheless, there are a few sights around the town to check out:

Skyline Gondola. One of the best views is from the top of Bob's Peak reached by the Skyline Gondola. Breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, the Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. It's truly magnificent and awe-inspiring! If you're fit, you can save money by hiking up the Tiki Trail, a very steep 1-2 hr hike from town.

Queenstown Gardens. Jutting out into Lake Wakatipu, these botanical gardens contain a variety of exotic and native trees and plants as well as a large pond and a range of facilities.

Kiwi Park Queenstown. Wildlife attraction featuring native New Zealand birds.

Queenstown Arts Centre. Contemporary art exhibitions and artists studios. Has some paintings for sale.

Ivan Clarke Gallery. Commercial art gallery selling the very large oil paintings by local artist, Ivan Clarke. The paintings are a mixture of local landscapes and a quirky set of dogs dressed as humans (The Lonely Dog).

Do

Getting out there and 'doing' is really what Queenstown is all about. Skiing was the first drawcard, but now it shares the limelight with a multitude of ways to test your bravery. If you can think of a way to get adrenaline pumping, Queenstown's budding entrepreneurs have probably tried at some stage to make a tourist attraction out of it. Bring a lot of money. It's easy to get swept up in the excitement, and ring up thousands of dollars of exciting activities quickly. And don't forget about the upgrades: a higher jumping-off point, photo and video packages, and more jumps.

Queenstown also has a full range of more gentle attractions, including relaxing tours, and luxury spas.

Skiing Skiing & snowboarding - There are four large commercial ski fields, and two specialist fields easily accessible from Queenstown. There are also a number of heli-skiing providers.

Coronet Peak - The closest to Queenstown, about 20 minute drive from the Centre of town via a sealed access road (all other ski fields have unsealed/gravel access roads), features a full range of slopes. The Remarkables - Nestled in the Remarkable Mountain range which towers above the airport. but still easily accessible from town. New lifts/runs and an access road upgrade for 2014. Cardrona - In the crown range, approximately a 1-hour drive (57 km) from Queenstown along the windy Crown Range Road. It features mostly mid-level terrain and a large terrain park. Snow Farm - across the other side of the valley from Cardrona, this is a specialist cross-country ski area. Treble Cone - The furthest field from Queenstown, about an hour and a half away. Usually visited by people based in Wanaka, Treble Cone is seen as more of a skiers field and generally features more advanced terrain.

Adventure tourism There are dozens of attractions and providers. The information centre in town acts as a booking centre and is a great place to start inquiries. Most businesses will have a store in the CBD where they can arrange things for you. Hostels and hotels generally have a stack of pamphlets showing what is on offer, and staff are generally happy to help with recommendations and bookings. All providers generally provide transfers from Queenstown.

Bungy jumping. Queenstown is home to the world's first commercial bungy jump, established on the Kawarau Bridge in November 1988 and still operating today.

Kawarau Bridge Bungy. The 43-metre (141 ft) bungy jump off the Kawarau Suspension Bridge is the world's oldest commercial bungy jump, and the only bungy jump in Queenstown offering tandem jumps.

The Ledge Bungy. 47-m drop. Bungy or swing.

Nevis Bungy. New Zealand's highest bungy at 134 m. The bungy is 45 min east of Queenstown; shuttles depart are from the AJ Hackett office on the corner of Shotover St and Camp St in central Queenstown.

Nevis Catapult. Described as "bungy jumping on steroids". Opened in August 2018.

Clay target shooting. Fire a real 12 gauge shotgun with Break One Clay Target Sports.

Jet boats. Exciting jetboat rides have been operating near Queenstown for 50 years. The jet boats carry passengers at high speeds over shallow waters performing stunts like 360-degree pirouettes in the water.

Shotover Jet. The original Shotover Jet is billed as "The World's Most Exciting Jetboat Ride".

Kawarau Jet launches into Lake Wakatipu from the centre of town.

Luge. A fun-filled gravity ride for all ages and abilities. You control your own gravity-propelled vehicle down the track. Choose from two tracks, one scenic and gentle, the other advanced and adventurous. Children must be at least 6 years old and 110 cm (3ft 7in) tall to ride alone; those younger or shorter can ride in tandem with an adult.

Mountain biking package tours are available which include transport to specific locations. Or you can just hire a bike, grab a map and some tips and explore yourself. There is also a downhill service based on the gondola, where you can buy a day pass and use it as a lift for repeated runs, and Rabbit Ridge, a trail centre in Gibston Valley, with over 40 km of tracks and shuttles. Mountaineering Parapenting/paragliding - launching yourself off a hill with a parachute to ride the "thermals" Parasailing available on Lake Wakatipu Quad-bike tours - are available, some of which are specifically designed to take in Lord of the Rings film locations. Riverboarding - Swimming through rapids on a bodyboard.

Mad Dog Riverboarding. An action-packed and personally challenging white water activity.

NZONE Skydive. First commercial tandem skydive company in New Zealand, operating since 1990.

White water rafting - Single and multi-day options, including a chance to go 'black water rafting' through an underground tunnel. Ziptrek Ecotours - New Zealand's #1 original zipline tour. Amazing zipline tours through the forest high up on Bobs Peak and accessed by the Skyline Gondola. A fully guided tour with cool tree house architecture interconnected by fun ziplines, stunning views and a little bit of education on the environment, Queenstown history and local flora & fauna.

Cruise on the TSS Earnslaw. Lake cruises on Lake Wakatipu offer great views of the town, surrounding mountains, etc. The TSS Earnslaw is a popular historic (1911) steamship which offers daily tours. There are also private charter providers.

Cycling. Hire a bike or e-bike for the day and use your legs. There is a cycle path which runs around the edge of the lake from the centre of town to the golf course opposite. For an all-day experience, consider riding over the Old Shotover Bridge and along the beautiful Kawarau River to Arrowtown. This will take about 3 hours each way on a standard mountain bike, less with an e-bike. The staff at Bikes & Beyond Queenstown (1092 Frankton Road) can show you which way to go when you pick up your rental bike. Frankton is on the way to Arrowtown so it makes sense to rent from here rather than somewhere back in the Queenstown CBD.

Off the Rails. Guided cycle tours on the world famous Otago Rail Trail from Sept to May. Departing from Queenstown. Includes bike hire, accommodation, breakfasts and transport.

Horseback riding. There are some great tours that pick up in Queenstown and take you into the valleys, through rivers, etc. Pamphlets can be collected at any hotel or hostel to explore the dozens of horseback tours

Fishing and flyfishing. Lake Wakatipu is known for trout. You cannot buy fish from lakes in New Zealand, you have to fish for them yourself. Flyfishing is also available locally.

Garden tours - Queenstown has a number of superb private gardens as well as the centrally located public Queenstown Gardens jutting out into Lake Wakatipu. The walking track on the lake edge offers excellent views of Queenstown and surrounding mountains.

Queenstown Garden Tours. Operate small group garden tours to 3 private residential gardens in and around Queenstown during spring & summer.

Golf - there are six clubs in town, with facilities (and green fees) ranging from everyday to the five-star Millbrook Resort. Hiking - Queenstown Hill behind the town can be climbed in about 3/4 hours for a fantastic view (and unlike most things in Queenstown it's free). There is also a nice track around the lake. Touring - the scenery surrounding Queenstown makes for excellent touring, with lakes, mountains and bush around vineyards and farmland. There are also a number of specific 'Lord of the Rings' themed tours which take in local film sites for the movie series.

Scenic flights The helicopter and light aircraft flights around Queenstown and to Milford Sound and Fiordland are rated amongst the best in the world. It is easily possible to fly from Queenstown in the morning, cruise Milford Sound over lunch, before returning to Queenstown in the afternoon, replacing what could otherwise be a long day on the road.

Glenorchy Air. Scenic flights to Milford Sound, Mount Cook and the Glaciers

HeliWorks. Exciting scenic flights in & around Queenstown & Milford Sound, Lord of the Rings flights with the pilots who filmed the trilogy.

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters. Offers a selection of daily scenic flights over the iconic landscapes of the Wakatipu and Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks. Alpine or snow landings are part of all their flights or you can discover the uniqueness of a glacier landing, included in all their Milford Sound experiences.

Wine tasting The southernmost vineyards in the world are close by.

Appellation Central Wine Tours. Appellation Central's team of specialists guides will host you on a memorable day out in Central Otago wine country. Small group tours depart daily from Queenstown.

Queenstown Wine Trail. Daily guided wine tours to renowned Queenstown & Bannockburn wineries

Buy

The town centre contains many tourist and souvenir stores but bargains can be hard to come by.

Outdoor suppliers are plentiful, with equipment for trampers (hikers), mountain bikers, skiers and snowboarders, and many others who use Queenstown as the launching-pad for expeditions into the nearby National Parks.

There are a handful of convenience food stores in the town centre, most open until midnight and beyond. Two large supermarkets are on the outskirts of town. Most of the stores in Queenstown are open daily until 8PM or 9PM.

Shops in the Queenstown area are allowed to open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday (unlike most of New Zealand), but still have to close on Christmas Day and on Anzac Day (25 April) morning.

Four Square Queenstown. Small supermarket.

The suburb of Frankton next the airport has the main supermarkets and large chain stores.

New World Queenstown. Supermarket with Harvey Norman electricals next door.

Pak n' Save. Supermarket, with a Mitre 10 Mega hardware store next door.

The Warehouse. Budget department store.

Eat

There are a huge variety of numerous eating establishments to be found in Queenstown, from all-hours takeaways to fine dining. Reservations for dinner are important at the best places most times of the year, and most nights of the week.

Due to the large number of restaurants, Queenstown is a culinary hub for New Zealand, and you will find regional produce such as pinot noir wine and Canterbury lamb on display in many of the restaurants. Fine restaurants also serve world-class seafood (local mussels, oysters and deep sea fish such as blue cod), game and red meat (farmed venison and beef).

There are also a number of wineries in the Gibbston Valley (20 minutes drive) with restaurants attached, most of which are open for lunch.

Budget Budget food is a little harder to come by in Queenstown. There are a few small fish and chip shops, kebab joints, and the usual KFC and McDonald's. Your best bet if you're looking to save a few dollars is to hit the supermarket. The other option is to wander around and check out daily specials on the sandwich boards of restaurants.

Fergburger. Legendary, large burgers, insanely busy most of the day.

Night n' Day. Hot food and groceries, also at 48 Shotover St.

The Cow Restaurant. Pizza & spaghetti house

The Lone Star. Tex-mex, casual dining

Skyline Queenstown Restaurant. Taste of New Zealand buffet offers delectable fresh seafood, salads, roast meats and delicious desserts.

Winnies Gourmet Pizza bar. Competitor for the best pizzas in town, caters for everyone and family friendly (before the drinkers start to come in the evening)

Botswana Butchery. A great restaurant with ambience, sensational service. The menu is extensive and specialises in meat. The whole leg of lamb for 2 could feed 3! The wine list is very good. Prices are at the higher end but sensational for a special occasion. Smaller private room dinning opportunities as well as a great bar room for pre-dinner drinks.

The Bathhouse Lakefront Restaurant, its crown-like architecture is like nothing else in Queenstown.

Drink

Nightlife in Queenstown is largely about drinking and there are over a hundred licensed premises, most in the downtown area. It's hard to walk down one of the central streets without tripping over a bar or three. Most bars stay open till around 4AM and it is lively most nights.

There are cheap bars popular with backpackers and young locals, and sophisticated and expensive wine, cocktail and imported beer bars. Many bars and pubs have sunny outdoor courtyards in the summer months, and roaring open fires in the winter. Major sports events are normally to be found on screen somewhere in Queenstown.

A selection of some of the most well known places follows:

Bar Up. A boutique nightlife bar, the upstairs bar has a lounge feel about it, warmed by an open fire with a private deck. It has an extensive cocktail list.

Bunker Bar. Hard to find boutique bar on Cow Lane, upstairs with open fires and a private deck. It has an extensive cocktail list.

The Find. Successor to the burnt down World Bar. Another popular backpacker bar. The specialty is cocktail-like drinks served in teapots.

Loco. Big backpacker bar popular with tour bus groups. Drink specials and theme parties nightly. Not the place for a quiet drink.

Red Rocks. Smaller backpacker bar with a ski lodge feel and a deck outside.

Tardis. Late night drum and base/dance venue.

Winnies. Later in the evenings this pizza bar turns into a popular drinking spot. Dining, drinking and partying under the sun and stars with an opening roof.

The World Bar. Funky, multilevel bar featuring a menu of burgers & pub grub, plus craft beers & teapot cocktails.

1876. Polished restaurant/bar in a circa-1876 stone-built courthouse offering upscale pub grub & a deck.

Sleep

Queenstown has a full range of accommodation choices, including backpackers, campsites, bed and breakfasts, apartments, motels and hotels. For the truly decadent there are also a number of 5 star boutique luxury lodges around the area, some of which often feature in 'best places to stay in the world' lists, and come with prices to match.

Heartland Hotel Queenstown. Central location, free WiFi, view rooms available, on-site restaurant & bar.

Nomads Queenstown. Open fire in lounge area, a sauna and ski storage available. SkyTV cinema, TV lounge, modern kitchen, wheelchair friendly, travel services, girls only dorms, high speed Wi-Fi. Free tea and coffee, light breakfast.

Tahuna Pod Hostel. Modern, central, clean and spacious pod accommodation.

Scenic Suites Queenstown. Central location, free WiFi, view rooms available, suites, full kitchen with cooking facilities.

Amity Serviced Apartments. A motel with modern-style decoration.

Crowne Plaza Queenstown. Central, lakeside location featuring lakeview rooms with full views of the Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu

Heritage Queenstown. Qualmark 4-star plus hotel with suites and 3-bedroom villas available. Free shuttle to town.

The Rees Hotel. Established nearly 150 years ago, this hotel has king-size beds, NZ wool carpet and heated floors in the bathroom.

Hidden Lodge. Overlooking Lake Wakatipu. Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

The Spire Hotel. The Spire Queenstown is a personal and inviting boutique hotel delivering guests a superior level of service.

Eichard's Private Hotel. A luxury boutique hotel with a history that dates back to the Otago Gold Rush in 1866.